Tooth-cleaning implement



June 16, 1925.

F. HEINZELMAN TOOTH CLEANING IMPLEMENT Filed Jan. 15 1924 gvm'ntot W W. W W

Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM F. HEINZELMANQ F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. V

TOOTH-CLEANING IMPLEMENT.

Application filed January 15,1924. Serial No. 686,422.

To alt whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM F. HEINZEL- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tooth-Cleaning Implements, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is a device for cleaning teeth and relates especially to means for applying dental floss to'the spaces between adjacent teeth in order to remove the particles of food or other matter which ac cumulate in such spaces. The invention also has for its object the provision of a device which will keep the floss in a sanitary condition and will permit it to be easily adjusted to present a clean lengthof the floss at the point of use and maintainit under the proper tension at all times: A-further object of the invention is to provide a device in which the element carrying the floss may be easily adjusted so as to permit the floss to bereadily applied to any of, the teeth, and other 7 objects of the invention will incidentally hereinafter appear. One embodiment of. the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing: j

1 Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a device embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a section on the1ine'2-2 of Fig.1; 1 i

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, the outer casing being omitted in Figs. 2 andw3, and i i i Fig. 4 is a sectional detail.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective showing the manner in which the floss holder is mounted on the body.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a body 1 which may be of any desired material and may conveniently be a substantially cylindrical block, although it may be a solid body and may have an angular cross sectional contour as well as a circular contour. This body 1 is provided in one side at about its center with a recess 2 and at its forward or working end with a recess or cut-away portion 3. Immediately adjacent the recess 3 and preferably upon the longitudinal axis of the body is formed asocket 1 for a looking pin or bolt 5, a coiled spring 6 being disposed within the socket between the end of the same and the end of the bolt to hold the bolt yieldably projected. Itotatably mounted in the end of the body 1 and across the same is a floss-holding element which may conveniently be, and is preferably, in the form of a yoke or U-shaped bar 8 of circular cross section having its side bearmg against the end of the body 1 provided with a circular series of recesses 9 into anyone of which the end of the locking pin or bolt 5 may project, so that the holder will be secured against the end of the body in any desired position. The free ends of this holding element are provided with notches 12 through which the strand of floss 13 is carried, a knot or other convenient form of stop 14 being provided upon the floss at the outer side of the holder to prevent the floss being accidentally pulled endwise from the notches, as willbe understood upon reference to Fig. 1. I

The end of the body 1 remote from the floss-holding element is threaded or otherwise constructed to be engaged by a cap 15, and the spool of floss, indicated at 16, is placed within this cap so that it will be protected against the access of dust or other impurities and the supply may be replenished readily when needed. In the end of the cap 15, I provide openings 17 through which the floss is threaded, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that it may be readily placed under the desired initial tension. From the openings 17, the floss is carried through a guiding tension sleeve18 provided'within the body 1 and extending longitudinally of the same. This sleeve projects axially into the recess 2 of the body and has its extremity therein longitudinally split, as indicated at 19, and externally threaded to receive a nut 20. Between the recess 2. and the recess or cut-away end portion 3 of the body, a guide sleeve or tube 21 is provided through which the floss is passed to be engaged in the notches 12 of the holder 8. When the floss is first placed in the device, the spool of floss is placed in the cap 15, as shown and as before stated, and the loose end of the floss is then carried through the adjacent opening 17 so as to appear on the outside of the end wall of the cap. It is then returned to the interior of the cap by being inserted through the more remote openingl'? and then carried longitudinally of the cap and inserted to and in through the tension sleeve 18, as shownv in Fig. 1 and as previously described. After being inserted through the members 18 and 21 and engaged with the notches 12, a knot is formed in the free end of the floss and the floss is then pulled rear-wardly or backwardly endwise so as to be taut between the sides of the holder 8, the slack being taken up between the openings 17 and eliminated by partly rewinding the floss upon the spool. The nut 20 is then rotated so as to close the tapered split ends of the sleeve 18 about the floss to such an extent as will preserve the proper tension upon the floss and prevent it working through the sleeve while inv use but permitting it to be readily drawn therethrough when a used portion is to be discarded and a fresh portion brought into: the working position.

In order to protect the device from an accumulation of dust and dirt and to keep it in a thoroughly sanitary condition, I provide an outer case 22 equipped with a cap 28 to cover one end, which case may be of any desired form and will preferably be of such. shape and dimensions that it will fit easily but closely around the device -so as to house the same and permit it to be readily carried without any of the parts being soiled.

In use, the holder 8 is adjusted rotatably upon the end of the body 1 so that the stretch of floss between the notches 12 may be easily engaged between adjacent teeth, it being noted that, when the floss is to be applied to the front or more accessible teeth. the free ends of the holder may be arranged in alinement with the axis of the body, and when the device is to be used between the molars or other back teeth, the member 8 may be arranged at an angle to the body. The body 1 with the cap 15 constitutes a handle whereby the floss may be reciprocated between the teeth in an obvious manner. The device is exceedingly simple and may be easily and conveniently used by anyone.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a body, meansv whereby the body may carry a supply of dental floss, a holder adjustably mounted upon one end of the body, a latching member mounted in the end of the body and engaging the holder to yieldably retain the same in a set position, and guides within the body for direct ing dental floss to the holder.

2. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a body, meanswhereby a supply of dental floss may be carried by the body, a tension sleeve fitted within the body, means upon said sleeve for engaging the same about a length of dental floss, a holding element mounted upon the end of the body, and means whereby a length of dental flo s from the tension sleeve may be engaged with said holder.

3. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a body, means whereby a supply of dental floss may be carried by the body, the body being provided with a recess in one side, a tension sleeve fitted in the body and having a tapered longitudinally split end projecing into said recess, a guide between the recess and one end of the body, a holding element mounted'upon the said end of the body and adapted to be en gaged by the end of the dental floss, and a nut mounted upon the tapered end of the tension sleeve within the recess in the body to close the end of the said sleeve about the floss.

4-. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a body constituting a handle and a floss container, a U-shaped floss holder having one arm pivoted through an end of the body on a diameter of the same, and means mounted in the body to engage said arm and yi-eldably hold the floss holder in a set position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM F. HEINZELMAN. '[L.s.] 

